I could barely believe my eyes as I read the recent front page story “Forget the Bhisho massacre”. There was the former dictator of the then homeland of Ciskei, Brigadier Oupa Gqozo, saying that the current government was wasting money by commemorating the Bhisho massacre.
He had the audacity to say it was a long time since 1992 – the fateful year in which his soldiers shot at marchers – and that the government should focus on the unanswered questions around the killing of 43 miners in Marikana.
I was gobsmacked at the sheer gall of the man to even say such things.
And why did he let the opportunity of redeeming himself slip?
He never went to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to explain what happened and ask for forgiveness. Nor has he, to my knowledge, publicly condemned his soldiers for their dastardly deed.
As I read the story I imagined how the relatives of the victims of those shooting would react when reading his ramblings.
That Gqozo sought to offset the tragedy of Bhisho with that of Marikana was bizarre. Does he really need to be reminded that two wrongs do not make a right and never will?
Of course, the Marikana massacre remains one of the saddest chapters in the current government’s history. It will remain so until the government is seen to have fully redeemed itself. The recent reports of compensation for the victims are nevertheless, quite encouraging. Money, no matter how much it may be, will never return those who have lost their lives. Nor is it likely toy make up for lost income for the survivors. But it is better than nothing.
Yes, it is true, as Gqozo claims, that many years have passed since 1992. But what has he done in all of this time for the victims and their families?
What is even more peculiar is his response in the face of an opportunity to say “I am sorry”. He is an African man and knows the importance of forgiveness in African society. His silence in the face of this has been deafening.
The response from the representative of the victims’ families showed maturity and wisdom. Bhisho Massacre Committee chair, himself a victim, Boyce Nqono was quoted saying he was not angered by Gqozo’s comments because freedom of speech was one of the many things his generation fought for. But Gqozo should be thanking those people his soldiers killed. They sacrificed their lives so that he could today make such comments publicly.
“Through the blood of many who fell including surviving victims like myself, Gqozo can say whatever he feels like saying because we gave him that freedom of speech,” Nqono reportedly said.
Ironically, during his spell as ruler of the Ciskei, Gqozo was not bothered by “niceties” such as freedom of expression. His word was law and was final. Anyone who crossed his line would be thrown into gaol. Regrettably that irony appears to have escaped the former dictator.
For all its faults, the current government should be commended for the freedoms it has allowed. Not only that, one has to give it credit for taking care of the victims of that massacre. It has built a contact centre at Bhisho designed to preserve the memory of those victims. The contact centre, visited on the anniversary of the massacre by Premier Phumulo Masualle and other dignitaries, will open as soon as final touchups are complete.
As the Premier and MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Pemmy Majodina explained, the contact centre will also provide employment opportunities for people in this province. They made it clear the victims’ surviving families would receive priority for jobs at the centre.
The current government has sought too “clean up” the immeasurable mess made by Brigadier Oupa Gqozo all those years ago, yet he seems somewhat ungrateful for the mercies he has been granted.
He remains a free citizen, not one languishing in gaol.. If he has nothing better to say he should, with due respect, shut his mouth.
Lolonga Tali works in the heritage sector
Sheer cheek of Oupa Gqozo
He had the audacity to say it was a long time since 1992 – the fateful year in which his soldiers shot at marchers – and that the government should focus on the unanswered questions around the killing of 43 miners in Marikana.
I was gobsmacked at the sheer gall of the man to even say such things.
And why did he let the opportunity of redeeming himself slip?
He never went to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to explain what happened and ask for forgiveness. Nor has he, to my knowledge, publicly condemned his soldiers for their dastardly deed.
As I read the story I imagined how the relatives of the victims of those shooting would react when reading his ramblings.
That Gqozo sought to offset the tragedy of Bhisho with that of Marikana was bizarre. Does he really need to be reminded that two wrongs do not make a right and never will?
Of course, the Marikana massacre remains one of the saddest chapters in the current government’s history. It will remain so until the government is seen to have fully redeemed itself. The recent reports of compensation for the victims are nevertheless, quite encouraging. Money, no matter how much it may be, will never return those who have lost their lives. Nor is it likely toy make up for lost income for the survivors. But it is better than nothing.
Yes, it is true, as Gqozo claims, that many years have passed since 1992. But what has he done in all of this time for the victims and their families?
What is even more peculiar is his response in the face of an opportunity to say “I am sorry”. He is an African man and knows the importance of forgiveness in African society. His silence in the face of this has been deafening.
The response from the representative of the victims’ families showed maturity and wisdom. Bhisho Massacre Committee chair, himself a victim, Boyce Nqono was quoted saying he was not angered by Gqozo’s comments because freedom of speech was one of the many things his generation fought for. But Gqozo should be thanking those people his soldiers killed. They sacrificed their lives so that he could today make such comments publicly.
“Through the blood of many who fell including surviving victims like myself, Gqozo can say whatever he feels like saying because we gave him that freedom of speech,” Nqono reportedly said.
Ironically, during his spell as ruler of the Ciskei, Gqozo was not bothered by “niceties” such as freedom of expression. His word was law and was final. Anyone who crossed his line would be thrown into gaol. Regrettably that irony appears to have escaped the former dictator.
For all its faults, the current government should be commended for the freedoms it has allowed. Not only that, one has to give it credit for taking care of the victims of that massacre. It has built a contact centre at Bhisho designed to preserve the memory of those victims. The contact centre, visited on the anniversary of the massacre by Premier Phumulo Masualle and other dignitaries, will open as soon as final touchups are complete.
As the Premier and MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Pemmy Majodina explained, the contact centre will also provide employment opportunities for people in this province. They made it clear the victims’ surviving families would receive priority for jobs at the centre.
The current government has sought too “clean up” the immeasurable mess made by Brigadier Oupa Gqozo all those years ago, yet he seems somewhat ungrateful for the mercies he has been granted.
He remains a free citizen, not one languishing in gaol.. If he has nothing better to say he should, with due respect, shut his mouth.
Lolonga Tali works in the heritage sector
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos